Bottom weight carrier for braiding machines



Sept. 27, 1955 A. J. GROH 2,718,310

BOTTOM WEIGHT CARRIER FOR BRAIDING MACHINES Filed April 15. 1953 IINVENTOR. AUGUST J. GRoH BY United States Patent BOTTOM WEIGHT CARRIER FOR BRAIDING MACHINES This invention relates to bobbin or package carriers for braiding machines and, more particularly, to a bottom weight for such a carrier, such as disclosed. in my co-pending application Serial No. 317,046, filed October 27, 1952, now Patent No. 2,704,958 which issued March 29, 1955.

In such machines, the carrier is provided with a bottom weight which moves the thread or cord downwardly against the base or foot of the carrier which is often greasy, oily and dusty resulting in soiling the thread or cord. The thread often engages moving parts and becomes broken. v 1 V In some of the carriers, the bottom weight is grooved or cut away at its bottom edge to provide a guide and support for the thread. This is objectionable as it weakens the weight at the place where it comes into contact with the base of the carrier and is likely to become damaged by constant hammering and jarring.

The present invention proposes to overcome these disadvantages by making the bottom end of the weight solid thus eliminating the groove or cutout at the lower end thereof and by providing a guide and support for the thread at a point outside the plane of the bottom end so that the thread is guided outwardly of the moving parts and is not carried down into contact with the base of the carrier.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a combination of elements adapted for applying tension to the thread or cord in such a maner as to efficiently and evenly tension the same without rendering it liable to abrasion or injury through being caught in the moving parts of the tensioning mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bottom weight with a thread guide and support which is easily threaded and which supports the thread entirely out of contact with the surface of the carrier parts during its vertical movements to prevent soiling or abrading of the thread.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a bottom weight and thread guide and support for a carrier of this kind which may be cast in one piece.

It is a further object of the present invention to construct bottom tension weights for braiding machine carriers which are simple and durable and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a carrier for a braiding machine embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the bottom end of the carrier.

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Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the plane of the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the bottom weight of the carrier.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, the bobbin supporting platform is illustrated at 10, in Fig. 3. The carrier made in accordance with the invention is indicated at 11 and comprises a base or foot 12 which rests on the upper surface of the bobbin supporting platform. The base 12 is provided with a depending projection 13 which projects through an opening in the bobbin supporting platform. Integraly formed on the lower end of the projection 13 is a plate 14 which engages the under side of the bobbin supporting platform for the purpose of maintaining the bobbin carrier in an upright position on said supporting platform. The retaining plate 14 is provided with a depending projection 15 which is adapted to be engaged by the lugs of the operating train of gears (not shown).

The base 12 of the carrier is formed with a vertical extending spindle 16 which is adapted to receive a thread package or bobbin shown diagrammatically at 17, the lower end of said bobbin resting upon a cross-piece 18 formed on the base 12 of the carrier. Trunnions 19 project from the cross-piece 18 for supporting the usual latch (not shown).

The carrier 11 is also provided with a vertically extending thread guiding post or standard 20, parallel to the spindle 16. The upper end of the post is 'formed narrower at 21 than the rest of its body portion to permit the entering of the top weight (not shown) thereon. Midway its ends, the post is formed with a guide opening 22 through which is threaded a thread 23 from the bobbin 17. On top of the post on one side thereof is a lead-ofi eye 24 for the thread 23, and on its opposite side a lip or stop 25 for limiting the upward movement of the weight.

Slidably mounted on the post 20 is a one-piece bottom tension weight 26 for controlling the run of the thread 23 and for applying tensioning stresses thereto. The weight consists of an angled body 27 formed with spaced elongated guide shoe members 28 and 29 disposed at an acute angle toward each other and connected at their bottom ends by a bridge portion 30. The shoe members are formed at their opposed adjacent inner ends with angled grooves 31, the walls 32 of which guide the movements of the weight along the side end surfaces of the post. The outer ends of the walls 32 overlap' the post to prevent lateral displacement thereof or removal therefrom. The clearance between the walls of the grooves and the post is such as to permit free movement of the weight along the post.

Formed integrally with the bridge portion or member 30 is a hook member 33 extending over and spaced outwardly from the outer surface of the bridge member whereby a clearance 34 is provided between it and the bridge member. The walls of the clearance space 34 serve as a guide and support for the yarn thread 23 whereby the thread can be readily looped around the hook member.

In operation, the thread yarn 23 is led from the bobbin 17 through the thread guide opening 22 in the post 20, thence at an angle downwardly and outwardly away from the post 20 and the guide shoe members 28 and 29 to and around the hook member 33 and thence upwardly again to and through the lead-01f eye 24 at the top of the post, to the braiding mandrel of the machine.

As the machine operates, the loop formed in the thread 23 is shortened which causes the tension weight 26 to move upwardly on the post 20. When the pressure on the weight is released, the weight falls by gravity to-a lower tensioning position and the same operation is repeated.

According to the present invention, the hook member 33 is positioned outside of the surface of the bridge member 3%) so! that the lowermost travel of the loop of the thread 23 is to a point remote from the base: 12 of the carrier so that. there is no chance of the thread coming into contact with dirt, grease or other foreign matter and becoming soiled. Furthermore the hook member is spaced outwardly away from. the bridge mem-- her with its outer surface curved; so: as to permit ready threading of the thread. The arrangement of the hook member outside of the bridge member also, guides. the yarn thread at an angle away from the post 20. and. the guide shoe members 28. and'29 so that the-threadismaintained out of contact with such parts to. prevent soilingor abrading of the thread. This arrangement also,v results in an even tension on the yarn thread thereby pr eventing ballooning or looping and consequent breakage. The bottom end of the. tension weight 26 is imp'erforate where it contacts the, base 12 of the carrier so that jarring and hammering will not tend to damage or weaken the Weight.

While I- have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and. the right is reserved to all changes and" modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent 1s:

1. In a thread carrier for braiding machines, a base portion provided with a bobbin carrying spindle and having a fixed thread. guiding post carried thereby and located in parallelism with said spindle, said post being substantially oval in cross section and having a thread guidingopening. and opposed guiding surfaces at its sides, a tension weight mounted on said post and sli'dable along said guiding surfaces, said weight having spaced elongated angle-walled guiding shoe members for guiding the weight in its movements, a bridge member connecting the bottom ends of said guiding shoe members, and a hook member formed" integrally with outer sur face of the bridge member, said hook member being spaced outwardly of the bridge member for receiving a thread from a bobbin on the spindle, the outer surface of the hook member being curved to facilitate entry of the thread into the space between the. hook member and the weight, said hook member including an elongated clearance slot.

2. As an article of manufacture, a bottom weight for a braiding machine carrier comprising a substantially arcuate-shaped body having a pair of elongated guiding shoe members projecting outwardly therefrom and forming extensions thereof, said shoe members having angular inner opposed surfaces adapted toslidably fit a thread guiding post, the portion of the body connecting the innerends-of the guiding shoe members being formed with an integral hook member extending radially outwardly of the outer surface of said connecting portion, said hook member terminating short of the inner end of the body and having a smooth-Walled undercut slot.

. References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 623,514 Cabezola Apr. 25, 1899 1,742,124 Blaisdell Dec. 31, 1929 2,043,285 Dennis June 9, 1936 2,144,991 Mossberg Jan. 24, 1939 2,437,539 King Mar. 9, 1948 

